We were raised very differently, my spouse and I. He was brought up in a strict manner. His parents were strict on food, strict on toys, strict on studies. As for me, mom died when I was 10. Dad was a policeman and he had 5 of us to look after in addition to making sure we had enough money for our education etc. I don’t think he had very much time to ponder on how we were being raised. So I was left pretty much to myself.

It is because of this difference in the way that we were raised that constantly comes up between us when we are trying to raise our own kids. It is not that we want it that way but it is hard to change our values and the way we were brought up ourselves. For example, the spouse believes in pushing the kids in their studies. He wants them to have the values of doing the best that they can. He wants them to learn that they have to work hard for what they want. Nothing wrong with that. These are good values to have.

However, it causes challenges for me. I want the kids to have time to be kids. To play and be happy. So, I the primary caregiver since I am at home with them most of the time, am not meeting up to his standards of working hard. For instance, during the school holidays he wants me to sit down and do revision with the kids. His reasoning is I should do so otherwise they will have a hard time when school starts. (and this is true).  If we don’t take the opportunity to do some work during the holidays, quite often we have a hard time catching up in school during school days but I reasoned that if we work them hard during the holidays too, then when will they ever have a holiday? When will they ever get time to play?

Of course the spouse being the family man that he is tries to make sure they have time to play as well. He makes time for them, takes them to the movies, out to the mall etc. Still, I feel a little bit stressed and worked up every time he asks me “So, did you all do some work today?” and the pressure to get good results is very high during exam periods. Recently, my girl did not do very well for her essay papers in Chinese and Malay. I told him that she had worked very hard and his “You must not only work hard but work smart” resonates in my ears and in my heart.

I am not a very good teacher. I feel so overwhelmed looking at all the things that they don’t know and I don’t know where to start. We seem to go around in circles. It is really hard trying to teach the kids 3 languages plus Maths and Science. The spouse teaches the kids Maths and Science so that helps but getting them to be good in 3 languages? That’s really really tough. Sigh. This post was tough to write too. I don’t know how to put my thoughts into words the way I usually am able to. I’m rambling. Its all wrong.

I was reading about the flash floods in KL last night and this reminded me of the flood experience I had when I was younger. I remember I used to live in the  Police Barracks in Bentong, Pahang. Once, there was a very bad flood and we were all evacuated. I was very young then, probably around 5 years old. All I could remember was looking at the swirling waters behind the pick-up truck we were travelling in and finding it so strange to be in a roomful of strangers sitting and lying on the floor in the evacuation center.

Later on we moved to Kuantan in the East Coast of Malaysia. The East Coast often has monsoon rains at the end of the year. We had a big drain at the back of our house and sometimes that would fill up quickly and flood waters would threaten to rise and enter the house. Usually it would flood all over the back garden that is all so we didn’t have to clean up very much. Another time, I remember wading around in knee deep waters in Kuantan town. I can’t remember why I was in town though.

I used to cycle to all over Kuantan on my own. I was around 13-15 years old at the time. I would cycle to the cinema in town, to the beach at the end of town, to my Organ lessons, to school for afternoon activities. Life was very carefree and different then. It was much more safe as compared to now though I did get my bicycle stolen once. I was shocked to find my bicycle gone when I came out of the cinema. Another time, I had my tyres punctured on purpose, I think, near the beach and I had to push it home up and down the hill. It was very far and very tiring. Hmm… maybe it wasn’t so safe after all.

Back to floods, it used to flood in my Penang house too. Whenever it rain, the water would quickly rise, pour in the front garden and into the house. My aunts always have a hard time cleaning up after that.

I haven’t experienced a flood in KL before but I certainly hope not to.

We went to Daiso at The Curve yesterday to get my girl a RM5 digital watch to replace her broken one and ended up RM60 poorer with all sorts and manners of knick knacks, decorative items, stationery, origami paper etc. Oops!

We were in a hurry. Otherwise, the hole in our pockets would have been bigger. The kids got away with these batch of cute sticky notes. Recently, they’ve started sticking sticky notes all over their tables and books to remind them of things to do.

Too bad I was pressed for time or perhaps it’s a good thing I was in a hurry, otherwise, I would be very much poorer as I didn’t get to explore the shop in detail leaving out the kitchenware, women’s accessories etc. I love Daiso.

my samsung galaxy ace

I don’t have an iPad or a tablet computer though I hanker for one but I do have my Samsung Galaxy Ace phone.

After I got my Samsung Galaxy Ace, I discovered Zinio and I love it! Zinio is a free magazine app for reading magazines on the Android device. However, you would have to subscribe to the magazines. The titles available are very comprehensive and subscription is easy. I would certainly subscribe to some magazines if I had a tablet computer because reading would be so much easier then.

In the meantime I am enjoying my free magazines from Zinio. After I registered with Zinio, I received a $30 coupon which I immediately used for purchasing some magazines. Later on, I received another $10 promotional coupon which I used up too. In addition to these you can browse and download free magazines to read.

I love reading the magazines digitally. Some of the magazines have a text only section for you to select so you have a choice of reading the magazine as it is or text only. It’s like reading the real thing because you can flip the magazine and what I love the most is it does not take up my shelf space at home which is exploding with books. It helps save the environment too.

At the moment, I currently have these on my Zinio library. Some of them are single issues, some are one year’s subscription. The best part is… they’re all free!

I am currently reading these on my zinio..

OWL Magazine

OWL magazine for 9 to 13 year olds. It includes the science behind how things work, quizzes, contests, and topics on everyday life. My boy likes the comics in them.

Women's Health magazine

Women’s Health Magazine is for the woman who places importance on being healthy-physically and emotionally. I like to read mostly the fitness, nutrition and weight loss part.

Glamour UK Edition

I read Glamour for fashion and beauty advice. Well, even a SAHM needs a little Glamour now and then.

American Girl

American Girl Magazine is Created especially for girls age 8 and up, American Girl is an appealing, age-appropriate alternative to teen magazines. It features advice, crafts (I like this part),  puzzles, games, giggles, and more. This one’s for my girl naturally.

Cosmopolitan

Cosmopolitan is  the largest selling young women’s magazine in the world, Cosmopolitan is famous for its upbeat style. It focusses on the young career woman and often has candid and open discussions on the contemporary male/female relationship. Well, I’m still young at heart so I can read this one though targetted at the younger working woman.

Parent and Child

Scholastic’s Parent & Child magazine is an useful resource for parents who want to play an active role in all aspects of their child’s development and learning. I find Parenting Magazines boring usually but sometimes I read them to get some much needed advice and ideas on Parenting.

marie claire

Marie Claire offers solutions for the time pressed busy woman on fashion and beauty. It also includes global and cultural issues. Marie Claire is also targetted towards the younger working woman.

new scientist

New Scientist magazine has the latest science and technology news, putting discoveries and advances in the context of everyday life. New Scientist relates the advancements of human knowledge to the broader impacts on society and culture, making it  an interesting read for inquisitive people who wants to know why. This is one of the magazines I selected when I browsed for free magazines to download and read. It’s not what I would normally read but it is interesting.

I also have the local Her World Magazine and the WebMd Magazine on my Zinio Magazine reader for my Android Phone. I am currently reading all of them at the same time. What I like about a digital magazine reader is the fact that it automatically leaves a bookmark on the page where you are reading. The next time I read, I just continue from where I left off. My magazines are all downloaded for offline reading on my Android but I can choose to read them on  my PC as well if I like. I prefer my Android because it is more portable, that is all.

I also like the fact that Zinio delivers magazines from all over the world directly to me. Some of these magazines are not available to me on the local news stand.

So many magazines to read and all for free!

Don’t believe me? Take a look at the screenshot of my Zinio library below:

My Zinio Library

If you haven’t got it already, you just have to check it out. You won’t regret it. Here’s the Zinio link.

I think the best time to visit Kek lok Si Temple Penang is in the evening or night during Chinese New Year. That’s when it’s all lighted up and looks like a fairy land. Of course, you will have to go through a horrendous traffic jam and have difficulty looking for a car park but the magical atmosphere and beauty is worth it. The view is breathtaking.

The best time to go to Kek Lok Si Temple is in the evening just before they turn on the lights. Then you can watch the lights being turned on and the place turn from beautiful to magical like an enchanted palace. The kids love it. Usually we’ll go in the evening then we wait for the lights to be turned on and everyone will go Ooohh and Aaahhh.

This year, being The Year Of The Dragon 2012, there are two dragon lights guarding the gate to the pagoda. This is the Dragon before the lights are turned on.

The Dragon after the lights are turned on turns into a magical fire breathing dragon, well almost.

There are lanterns and lights everywhere at the Kek Lok Si Temple, there are lights within the temple.

There are lights on the trees…..

There are lights on the temple rooftops….

There are lights on the railings and walls of the temple….

Then there is the magnificent and towering 30.3m tall Goddess of Mercy or Guan Yin Statue. You’d have to take an inclined lift to take you further uphill or if you choose to, you can drive up there but walking is better so you get to see everything and  you don’t have to go through the jam.

The gardens are lovely too at the Kek Lok Si Temple

I love this mini tomato plants at the Kek  Lok Si Temple. They were everywhere near the Pagoda. They look like mini mandarin oranges and add to the Chinese New Year atmosphere.

There are pumpkin plants too, hidden at the corner beside the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas.

Here is part of the evening crowd waiting for the lights to come on. You can see how these plants were magically transformed once the lights come on in the same picture above but with the lights on the plants.

You also get to see Penang from a bird’s eye view. We got to see fireworks too at various parts of Penang from the top. What a sight to behold.

We enjoyed our visit to the Kek Lok Si Temple. There are car parks at every level of the temple but the best way to see the temple is to park at the lowest level and walk. Mind you, you will have lots of walking to do.

There are 3 main levels to the temple if I am not mistaken. The first level, the ground level is the oldest part. If you walk up that way, you will pass by many souvenir shops, you will pass by a turtle sanctuary. Go higher up and you reach the pagodas. You might have to pay extra to enter the pagoda section but its worth while. Then you take an inclined lift to the highest part of the temple where the Guan Yin statue is. The temple grounds there are lovely with landscaped gardens and a koi fish pond, wishing trees etc. Or you can drive up to any of the levels you want and park your car but of course you’d have to brave the traffic.

Map to Kek Lok Si Temple

View Larger Map